Mrs. Claus' Favorite Christmas Activities for Kids

Christmas doesn't have to be packed with elaborate plans to feel magical. Some of the sweetest memories come from simple things children can make, read, bake, discover and enjoy together.

Mrs. Claus has a soft spot for the kinds of Christmas activities that slow everyone down a little.

Not everything needs to be a big event. Sometimes the best part of December is sitting around a table with construction paper everywhere, reading the same Christmas book for the tenth time, or letting children decorate cookies that look absolutely nothing like the picture on the box.

Those are the moments that tend to stick.

Here are some of Mrs. Claus' favorite Christmas activities for kids—simple enough for home, a classroom, a neighborhood gathering or a visit with grandparents.

1. Write a Letter to Santa

This one is a classic for a reason.

Writing a letter to Santa gives children a chance to think about Christmas, practice writing, draw pictures and tell Santa a little about themselves.

For younger children, Mom or Dad can write while the child dictates. Older children can write their own.

And the letter doesn't have to be just a wish list.

Try asking children to include:

• Something they're proud of from the past year
• Something kind they did
• A question for Santa
• A picture for Santa or the elves
• Something they're thankful for

2. Make an Ornament Every Year

Homemade ornaments are rarely perfect.

That's exactly why they're wonderful.

A handprint ornament made at age three may not seem especially valuable today, but twenty years from now it can become one of the things you carefully unwrap first every Christmas.

You can use:

• Wooden ornament blanks
• Salt dough
• Clear fillable ornaments
• Popsicle sticks
• Photos
• Ribbon and beads

Write the child's name and year somewhere on the ornament before you put it away.

3. Decorate Christmas Cookies

Notice we said decorate cookies.

You are under no obligation to spend six hours baking from scratch unless that makes you happy.

Store-bought sugar cookies, refrigerated dough or a simple mix work just fine.

Put out frosting, sprinkles and a few decorations and let the children create.

Will there be too many sprinkles?

Yes.

There are always too many sprinkles.

That's part of Christmas.

4. Make Reindeer Food

Children love the idea of leaving something outside for Santa's reindeer.

You can make a simple version with oats and festive edible sprinkles, then let the children scatter it outside on Christmas Eve.

If wildlife may eat what's left behind, avoid glitter and other non-food craft materials.

The activity is simple, inexpensive and gives children one more little job to do before bedtime.

5. Have a Christmas Story Night

This might be Mrs. Claus' favorite.

Turn off some of the lights, leave the Christmas tree glowing and gather everyone together with a favorite Christmas book.

You can choose a new story each night, or read the same special book every Christmas Eve.

Children don't mind repetition nearly as much as adults think they do. In fact, hearing the same story year after year is exactly how traditions are made.

6. Go on a Christmas Light Hunt

This activity requires almost no preparation.

Put everyone in pajamas, make some cocoa, get in the car and look for Christmas lights.

You can make it even more fun by creating a simple scavenger hunt.

Who can find:

• A giant inflatable Santa
• A snowman
• A house with all-white lights
• A reindeer
• A nativity scene
• A Grinch
• A candy cane
• Lights synchronized to music

The winner gets bragging rights—or the first cookie when you get home.

7. Do a Secret Christmas Kindness

Christmas magic feels even better when children learn they can help create it for someone else.

Choose one simple act of kindness the family can do together.

For example:

• Leave treats for a neighbor
• Donate toys
• Make cards for a nursing home
• Buy something from a giving tree
• Leave a thank-you treat for a delivery driver
• Help an elderly neighbor decorate

It doesn't need to be expensive.

The goal is simply to help children understand that part of Christmas joy comes from giving it away.

8. Have a Christmas Movie Picnic

Move dinner into the living room for one night.

Spread out a blanket, make something easy and watch a Christmas movie together.

Pizza counts.

So does popcorn.

Mrs. Claus is not checking nutritional records during December.

Let each family member take turns choosing the movie throughout the season.

9. Create a Christmas Scavenger Hunt at Home

A scavenger hunt can turn an ordinary December evening into an adventure.

Hide simple clues around the house that lead children from one spot to another.

The final surprise doesn't need to be a big gift. It could be:

• A Christmas book
• Hot cocoa
• A new ornament
• A family movie
• Christmas pajamas
• A note announcing a trip to see Christmas lights

For younger children, use pictures instead of written clues.

10. Ask the Same Christmas Questions Every Year

This is such a simple tradition, but it becomes more valuable with time.

Ask children a few questions every December and save their answers.

Try:

• What do you want Santa to bring you?
• What is your favorite Christmas song?
• What is your favorite Christmas food?
• What was the funniest thing that happened this year?
• What do you think Santa's favorite cookie is?
• What are you most excited about next year?

You can write the answers in a notebook or record a short video.

Years later, those little interviews become priceless.

11. Schedule a Night to Do Almost Nothing

This may sound like a strange Christmas activity.

It isn't.

December can become so packed with parties, shopping, concerts, school events and obligations that families reach Christmas exhausted.

Pick one night where you're not going anywhere.

Put on Christmas pajamas.

Turn on the tree.

Eat something easy.

Play a game, read a book or sit around talking.

Children don't need every December night scheduled.

Sometimes they just need everyone home together.

The Best Christmas Activities Become Traditions

You don't need to do everything on this list.

Pick two or three things your family enjoys and repeat them.

That's how an activity becomes a tradition.

And traditions are funny. The things that seem small when children are little can become the things they insist on doing when they're teenagers—and eventually the things they recreate with children of their own.

So decorate the crooked ornament.

Read the book again.

Go look at the lights.

Make the cookies with far too many sprinkles.

That's Christmas magic too.